About Chris

Artist Statement

Painting challenges me in ways that I would never expect to love.  I paint from my imagination using oil, acrylic, pastel, and mixed media. My work is colorful and textured, scratched and splattered.  Nature, symbols, patterns, memories and music inform and inspire my work.

My favorite story about a collector of mine, after purchasing a figurative piece of a woman, wasn’t at all interested in the story of the painting.  As I started to explain how it came about she very nicely whispered  "shh…I have my own story about this painting".  So much for stories accompanying paintings.

Before painting full time, I raised my family.  Before raising my family, I had a professional singing career.

I’ll never forget one night in Richmond, Virginia, I was singing in the nightclub of the Rodeway Inn.  Bonnie Raitt was sitting at the bar after her concert with Little Feat.  At the time I didn’t realize who it was, I just heard someone singing harmony with me to "Danny’s Song".  She sounded great of course, that was an exhilarating time to say the least!  When she walked out of the room I ran after her and jumped into the elevator with her, we spoke briefly.  She was very nice and I’ll always remember her kind words of encouragement.

Painting is a fascinating study, and I was lucky because I grew up around painters and have always painted.  My mother and her friends would take me on many of their painting expeditions.  I modeled for many of them as well.  Painting is a different way of using my voice. Learning to paint like myself is a lifelong journey and I embrace it.

Favorite Artists
J. W. Waterhouse John Singer Sargent, Richard Diebenkorn, Ambroise Vuillard, Edouard Manet, Pable Picasso, James Rothko, Robert Motherwell, Joan Miro, Gustav Klimt, Nicolai Fechin, Daniel Greene, Edward Hopper, Edgar Degas, Tom Jensen, Jon Hall, Ted Goerschner, Dan Boylan, Allison Massari. Camille Pissaro,

I have studied art at Scottsdale Artist School,  Metropolitan Technical Community College, Creighton University Many private classes.  Tutelage from my artist mother.

Galleries and Shows

2010 – October Featured Artist at White Crane Old Market Art Gallery Crawl

2010 – Art in Bloom Lauritzen Gardens

2010 – Planned Parenthood Silent Auction Donation (Pink Sky on Dundee Gallery Web Site)

2009 November – Private Commissions Portrait

2009 November – Donation to Sons of Italy Christmas Party Raffle

2009 October – Accepted into White Crane Gallery in Old Market

2009 October – Omaha Community Playhouse Silent Auction Donation

2009 September – Peter Buffett CD Cover Art Contest Winner

2009 September – St. Winceslaus Art and Craft Fair

2009 September – Rockbrook Wine ‘n Wine Fundraiser for Children

August – Woodstock/Cornstalk Festival Painting for Rob Henkel Silent Auction Fundraiser for

2009 August – Lauritzen Fall Garden Art Show

2009 October – Omaha Art Mill Gallery Display

2009 July – Dundee Gallery Display

2009 June – St. Thomas More Art and Craft

2009 June – Dick Blick Art Show

2009 March – Lauritzen Garden One Woman Show

2008 Spring – Silent Auction Fund Raiser for the Micah House

2008 Spring – Blue Pomegranate Gallery Display

2008 February – Visiting Nurse Association Art n Soup

2008 – Dundee Gallery Displays my Art

2008 November – Legacy Art Frame  Show

2007 Fall  – Legacy Art & Frame Fund Raiser for Cystic Fibrosis

2007  Chamber I & II are in the Omaha Chamber of Commerce Board Room and featured in the Omaha World Herald

Summer 07 – Featured at Dundee Gallery

Spring 07 – Field Club Fund Raiser for Heart Association Show

2006-2007 – Featured in Crane Coffee 144 Maple

Summer 07 – The Big Art Event at Mangelsens

January 07 – Smartist Telesummit

March   04 – Metro Hot Shops Competition

Summer 07 – Interior Design Showhouse

Fall 06 – Featured at The Frame Service Gallery

Fall 06 – Hamilton Color Labs Fine Arts Gallery

2005  -  Teaching Private Painting

2004  -  Teaching Private Painting

2003  -  Teaching Private Drawing

2002  -  Teaching Private Composition

Spring 01 – Interior Designer Showhouse Susan McMannama

Spring 99 – Interior Designer Showhouse Susan Mcmannama

1998   Private Commissions